perfidy

per·fi·dy

noun \ˈpər-fə-dē\

plural per·fi·dies

Definition of PERFIDY

1

: the quality or state of being faithless or disloyal : treachery

2

: an act or an instance of disloyalty

Examples of PERFIDY

1. They are guilty of perfidy.
2. <he decided to forgive his wife's perfidy, choosing to ascribe it to a moment of uncharacteristic weakness>
3. A man who built his entire administration upon demanding unctuous loyalty from his allies now finds himself wounded by their shabby betrayal. You'd have to go back to one of Spain's humpbacked Hapsburgs to find court perfidy of the variety that is currently depleting the president's power. —Jack Hitt, Mother Jones, January & February 2006
4. The petty Robespierres on the public stage appeal to “the real America” to rise up in fury against presidential perfidies; yet in poll after poll the real America keeps telling Washington that it has gone bonkers. —David L. Kirp, Nation, 8 Mar. 1999
5. I lived there off and on for twenty years, through graduate studies, marriage, the end of marriage, the perfidies of middle age, all the while unaware of passion. —Susan Barron, New England Monthly, October 1989

Origin of PERFIDY

Latin perfidia, from perfidus faithless, from per- detrimental to + fides faith — more at per-, faith

First Known Use: 1592

Related to PERFIDY

Synonyms

disloyalty, faithlessness, falseness, falsity, inconstancy, perfidiousness, infidelity, unfaithfulness

Antonyms

allegiance, constancy, devotedness, devotion, faith, faithfulness, fealty, fidelity, loyalty

Related Words

adultery; betrayal, double-cross, double-dealing, duplicity, sellout, treachery, treason; deceit, deception, lying

Near Antonyms

staunchness, steadfastness; dependability, reliability; honesty, trustworthiness